Afghan Election Runoff Not Affected By Abdullah Abdullah's Call For Boycott: Hillary Clinton

JERUSALEM — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says Abdullah Abdullah's call for a boycott of next weekend's runoff election in Afghanistan will not affect the legitimacy of that runoff.

Clinton was asked Saturday at a news conference in Jerusalem about the presidential challenger's decision to not participate in the runoff.

She said that it his decision to make but said the runoff has already been legitimized.

When Afghan President Hamid Karzai accepted the runoff after the first election, she said, "that bestowed legitimacy from that moment forward."

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the matter of when to hold a runoff was a decision for the Afghans, and they have already said it should be Nov. 7.

Asked about putting it off until spring, Crowley said, "It's not our decision," adding, "The sooner a new government emerges, the better."

Comments

[vascopyjama]

This is Hillary's way of saying the fix is already in.

[murphy80]

no problem with a one candidate election

our supreme court can help Afgan too.

[organiccarrotjuice]

Her statement does not have that 'ring of truth ' that we want. She should say that all bets are off now. She would not have made a good President, but still better than Palin.....

[SolarPowerGuy]

Wow. So now, the Democrats are officially throwing their support to a government that will govern without electoral legitimacy? That's a move that I have come to expect from Republicans. But I thought that even today's Democrats-­in-name-on­ly would know better.

What, exactly, is our government's reason for expanding our troop commitment to Afghanistan? Clearly, promoting democracy doesn't enter into the equation at all.

[vascopyjama]

We have on occasion been known to support illegitimate governments before you know.

[SolarPowerGuy]

Oh, you bet I know it. I just didn't think that the Obama Administration would do it, given that this will, unquestionably, make Afghanistan "Obama's war."

[jrutle]

This a very curious comment by Hillary. Legitimacy is real only through the eyes of the Afghan people, not American or any other foreign authorities.

[FebM]

thats a good stand

[potrerohillman]

1. How did the secretary of state and the president NOT know that Abdullah was withdrawing? Seems we are not in touch with what is really happening. Again, the USA seems to be in bed with one political faction which can only be seen as political interference.
2. Who does Clinton think she is kidding by denying the obvious and acting to support the failed Karzai government? American foreign policy is looking more and more incompetent. Has anyone done a head count on how many of the coalition of the willing are still willing? Does anyone know what democracy in Afghanistan should look like? Karzai for all his fluency in English and colorful robes was never much of leader and now he will look to all the world as merely a puppet. A puppet to have conceded in allowing the second election, and now a puppet claiming victory without an opposition. Brilliant work, Madame Secretary.

[harveyr2]

Pushing Abdullah Abdullah out of the election is another transparent tactic that Obama will use to rationalize pulling troops out of Afghanistan.

[jrutle]

No idea what you're talking about but I hope your result is true and we begin to withdraw forces soon.

[SolarPowerGuy]

Secretary Clinton's remarks suggest just the opposite. And you know, by now everyone should recognize one simple fact about American politics:

If a politician makes two contradictory remarks, the more left-leaning remark is the lie used to win votes, and the more right-leaning remark is the truth.

[Hiphopcrates]

"She said ... the runoff has already been legitimize­d."
She meant ... the runoff has already been won.

[SwingingFromCenter]

Ironically if this had gone the other way and it was Karzai who had withdrawn because of the widespread fra.ud involved in this thing, Clinton would be on the podium saying it was completely bogus and the entire election is nothing but a sh.am.

Guess it all depends on whether the US likes you or not.

[poindexter]

Clinton is full of BS

[dhinds]

"She said ... the runoff has already been legitimized.

When Afghan President Hamid Karzai accepted the runoff after the first election, she said, "that bestowed legitimacy from that moment forward.""

That's P Poor logic. She's implying that she supports electoral fraud, and the the USA has already selected it's preferred puppet; an authoritarian perspective and message. (The decision has been made and no discussion will be forthcoming. The problem doesn't exist because WE refuse to recognize it).

The source of Obama's principle errors in his presidency seems to stem from making poor choices when filling Cabinet positions and selecting White House Staff.

I'm glad HRC didn't make it to the Presidency. When comprehension is limited, performance suffers. Obama seems much more open to alternative solutions and able to correct his mistakes (I sincerely hope - and I'm generally a pretty good judge of character).

[MaggieMamacat]

Darn it, we had a perfectly good excuse for withdrawing from Afghanistan. We could say, "We will no longer support a government that is not a legitimate democracy.­" Then packed up our troops and brought them home. Sending more troops is like trying to plug a rat-hole with cheese, the more we send the more militants are recruited. Our soldiers are injured or killed, native civilians get caught in the crossfire, the extremists are delighted because our presence is the best recruiting tool they could wish for. It's just a mess and we need to make the bleeding stop.

[jrutle]

Good post. We have met the enemy and he is us...

[bmull]

Excuse me, cuz. Are you saying that if Barack Obama had boycotted the Presidential primary, that the primary would not have been affected? True, Rahm Emanuel would have become COS either way, but still I think most people would have questions.

[duxguts]

Well you see Barbra, we don't talk to Cuba because they don't hold proper elections.

[sleepdawg]

LOL. Let's see. Karzai, whose brother has been on the CIA payroll for 8 years and who is instrumental in the growth and export of opium from the country, who is the selected puppet front of the US, accused of receiving fraudulent assistance from US paid mercenaries in the election, is left on the ballot by himself because the popular challenger has stepped out of the race, rather than legitimatize the foregone conclusion, and Ms. Clinton believes this is legitimate? Oh Hillary.

[placpje]

Oh Obama.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/02/gibbs-karzai-is-the-legit_n_342616.html

[go4thegold]

I think this shows the shallowness of the US policy in Afghanistan. Neither Obama nor Clinton have a real handle on things. I believe they're already in bed with Karzai so they would rather the stronger of the two corrupt leaders be on our side. So look for more death of US soldiers in the region. D.